finished reading // The Husband's Secret

Note: This post is part of a blog book club and is a post about my feelings and opinions in regards to this book. Read more about the blog book club and why I read this book here. This post was written after I read the book and therefor contains SPOILERS, so don't read this post if you aren't finished with the book!

This book was different than I expected, and it was a really good read. It was a good mix of keeping me guessing, but also had an element that made it possible to make some speculation about what might come next. A mind boggling mystery can be fun, but one that you can grasp can make for a good read, too.

Overall Thoughts

This book was much more than a murder mystery. It was a book about relationships and even more specifically, about the nature and experience of relationships under strain. I found the murder mystery to be very intriguing, and the mystery of Jean Paul's letter to be even more intriguing.

I enjoyed how the book started with separate individuals, who upon first glance had no relation or shared experience. And then as the book progressed, we see how these characters' lives are inextricably linked. I really enjoyed that development.

Opinion on Characters

I appreciated Cecilia's efficiency; I admired her organizational skills, feisty management of her household, and fierce love of her daughters. I felt sympathy for her and the horrendous predicament Jean Paul's letter put her in. I agreed with her choices for the most part, and don't see how she could have done better with the information she was give.

Jean Paul seemed so great. But, I cannot even wrap my head around the concept of a good person making such an incredibly horrible mistake. We all make mistakes, of that I am completely and personally aware. But the degree of JP's mistake is about as bad is it gets. I am not sure how I feel about him. I don't necessarily hate him, but I don't find any sympathy for him either.

Rachel's pain was difficult to read about. My heart ached for her; first the loss of her daughter and then the impending loss of her grandson. I felt her assumptions about her daughter-in-law were a little harsh, so I was very pleased when, towards the end of the book their relationship had improved tremendously. I couldn't help but be annoyed at her for her somewhat blind animosity towards Connor, but then again I had the benefit of having a bigger picture that was hinting to me that he was not Janie's killer. I also couldn't help but be angry when she hit Penny. Granted Penny darted out in to the road, but Rachel played a big part (the biggest?) in the accident. Penny was truly an innocent, and Rachel's anger and grief over her own innocent daughter's murder does not negate her wrong. Ugh. This whole situation is so difficult.

Felicity and Will, well they disgusted me actually. Again, everyone makes mistakes, but their's honestly seems like an easy on to avoid. And their humble, apologetic confession to Tessa, well I found that to be rather self indulgent. I think if they really felt as bad as they would have Tess believe, then they would have both squelched their feelings. I don't know that Tess' affair with Connor was really appropriate, but honestly at that point I felt so bad for Tess, I didn't care.

Connor was not of much consequence to me. He seemed nice enough but he was neither really that good or bad.

Rating the Book

To sum up my feelings about various aspects of this book, I offer the following ratings...

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Yes. Specifically a good vacation/beach read. And, it appears I have given this book the highest marks yet out of the three we have read. I would definitely read another book by Liane Moriarty.

If you read The Husband's Secret too,

I would love to hear your thoughts! Please share your opinion of the book in the comments below and let's get a little discussion going.